'Flat year' for consumer goods sales

Growth in retail sales is expected to be flat this year at 13 percent, with most of the momentum coming from rising incomes and relaxed one-child policies, according to a retail industry report from a government think tank.

China is unlikely to introduce broad consumption stimulus policies this year, said Zhao Ping, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is under the Ministry of Commerce.

She said it's difficult to continue providing direct subsidies for consumption in view of slower tax revenue increases. Instead, growth in consumer goods sales will be mainly organic, said Zhao.